Ophthalmological apparatus



Feb. 5, 1929. 1,401,258

H. CLEMENT ET AL' l OPHTHALMOLOGICAL APPARATUS Original Filed NOV- 9, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l .g4/aff 7 l: f

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H. CLEMENT ET AL OPHTHALMOLOGICAL APPARATUS Original Filed NOV- 9, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY l my Wr/lfd A TTORNEYS Feb. 5, 1929. 1,701,258

H. CLEMENT Er AL OPHTHALMOLOGIGAL APPARATUS' INVENTORS HA /vs c L mf/vr GILBERT S. 05V

f" BY Jur/7h74 W# ATTORNEYJ` n Si) Patented 5, 1929.y

.UNIT-EAD STATES PATENT -oFF-ICE;

H'ANs CLEMENT, OF NEW. YORK,y AND GILRRRT s. DRY, or' MOUNT VERNON,A NEW YORK,A AssIGNORs To GENERAL OPTICAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

/' y OPHTHALMOLOGIOALAPPARATUS.

Original application filled November 9,

Our invention disclosed and claimed herein, by reason ofV a requirement of division s made by the Patent Office, was divided out of y zontally Offset relation so as to be out of axial our copending application for patent, Serial No. 673,728, filed November 9, 1923, for ophthalmological apparatus,and which became Patent No. 1,625,075', April 19, 1927. The present application is directed more particularly to the mechanical features of the apparatus, While the patent issued on the parent application is directe-d more particularly to what may be termed the electrical features, some of which are disclosed but not claimed herein. y y

Our invention has particular reference to stands or similar structures adapted to support in one unitary assembly or group all of the diagnostic instruments which will Ordinarily be employed in making a thorough Optical examination, this invention being an improvement upon thev apparatus disclosed in Pat-ent No. 1,494,666, issued May 20, 1924,

to Hans Clement, one of the co-applicants of this application. y

An object of our invention is to provide a device' of this sort which will be relatively simple and compact and which will provide` a rigid support for the larger instruments and also provide convenient attachment and support for the smaller diagnostic instruments in such a manner that all of the instruments may conveniently be brought successively to one point .for examination before the eyes of the patient without fatigue to the patient or loss of time.

Other objects of our invention are to pro-v vide an apparatus which'will permit of the use of the regular city current for illuminating the small as well as the larger diagnostic instruments, andan arrangement for leading i of the particular embodiment of our inven-A tion illustrated in the accompanying drawings. l

In accordance with our invention, we providean enclosed compartment vor cabinet` which serves as the base of the device and which supports a vertically. adjustable standan exterior faceof the cabinet.

1923, serial No. 673,728, Divided andv this-applicati@ mea october 11, 192e. serial No. 140,797. i

ard carrying upper and lower arms arranged to swingon vertical axes. In carrying out the invention, these axes are disposed 1n horialignmentwith each other. On the ends of these arms are supports for the' large instruments, such as an ophthalmometer land a refractor or other phoro-optometer. By adbe simultaneously raised or lowered, and in vcarrying out 'the invention means are also provided for independently raising or lowering at least one of the arms, and for horizonltally adjusting one of the instrument suplon the standard a suitable test chart in line with the refractor soy faced as to enable the patient to see the reflection thereof in a mirror infront ofthe patient.

vjusting the standard these instruments may Within' the base cabinet are contained the current controlling devices, the operating knobs or handlesV for which are disposed on y' Current may bef led in through the base or the lead-in l wires may conveniently enter through the standard which will be made hollow for this purpose. Current is yled from the current controlling devices by wires neatly arranged leading to the ophthalmometer and to the test chart. n v v A Our invention includes other features of construction and details and arrangements of parts, as Will'hereinafter 'more fully appear. `VVe shall now describethe illustrated embodiment of our invention and shall thereafter point out our invention in claims.

Fig. l is an elevation of a complete apparatus embodying our invention; v

.Fig la is an enlarged horizontal section taken Online 1**-1et of Figure l; i j

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail in sectional elevation of the vertical adjusting means for the refractor support;

Fig.,3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of thev base cabinet taken onr line 3-3 of Figure 5; Fig.' 4 is an elevation of the base cabinet as viewed from the right in Figure 1';

5 is a horizontal section of the same taken on line 5--5 of Figure 3, Withfthe jacks for the Small instruments omitted; and.

, as will be hereinafter described.

Figi. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the upper part of the base cabniet taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

The enclosed compartment or cabinet 1 serves as the base for the apparatus. This cabinet is shown as rectangular in cross section and is composed of cast iron or other suitable material, It is in form an elongated box standing on end and open at both its top and bottom, three of the walls being solid and the fourth wall being provided trom its top. 'for more than half of its length with an opening', in which :is set a suitable panel 2 carrying the current controlling apparatus, The top 3 ot" the cabinet a removable rectangular platea portion et which is cut out on one side to receive a top panel. portion l which is a right angle extension of the panel 2 and forms a llusb contiinuitionot| the surface vet the top 3, certain of the electrical parts being also carried by this top panel portion 4, as will hereinafter appear.

Entering through a hole provided in the top 3 is a hollow 0.1" tubular vertical standard 5, which extends with its lower end into the cabinet 1 and also. extends a suitable distance above the cabinet, as appears in Figure 1. This standard carries the horizontally swinging arms for the larger instruments as well as the test chart, and is` made vertically adjustable with respect to the base cabinet. To guide the standard in its vertical movenient, bosses are cast on the adjacent wall `of the cabinet 1, the standard passing through guide holes in these bosses. An upper boss t3 for this purpose is disposed near the top of .the cabinet, the iuner face oit the plate 3 being provided with boss 3? (Fig. 3) corresponding in shape to that of the boss 6 and positioned to rest upon it when the top. plate 3 is in place. 'llo prevent rotation of the standard 5, a set screw 7 in the boss 6 extends into a longitudinal groove 8 in. the standard 5.

Below the boss the saine wall of the cabinet 1 has two spaced bosses 9, and 10, (see Figs. l and 5.) which serve as lower bearings for the standard. 5,. Between the bosses l) and 1Q bears a worin wheel 11, which serves to ieed the standard 5. up and down. For this purpose, the standard is longitudiiuilly tlgneaded lor a portion ot its length and the worin wheel 1l internally threaded and is disposed upon the threaded portion et the standard.. To, rotate the worin wheel 11, a worin 12 is provided in engagement with. the worm, wheel, which worm is on a longitudinally manually operable shaft 13, which bears a its ends in suitable bearings provided for it in the adjacent wall of the cabinet 1. On the end of the shaft 13r outside of the cabinet is a hand wheel 1st and it is evidenttlziat by the rotation of this hand wheel the elevation of the standard is` adjustedthrough the partsiust described.

Swinging arin 15 for supporting an ophthalmometer V16 or other diagnostic instrunien t is carried by the standard 5 through the medium oi a suitable. bracket arm 17. This bracket which may be a casting, has at its inner end a hub 18 which is secured upon the standard 5 above the boss 9 by set screws, asr shown. rllhis bracket has two right angle bends 0r elbows, whereby its end which eX- tends outside of the cabinet is offset to near the lopposite side of the cabinet from the standar-d'5. T he `first leg of the bracket eX- tends from the hub parallel to the shaft 13 to the vicinity of the wall of the vcabinet adjacent the hand wheel 14, whence it extends parallel to ythat wall to near the opposite cerner oli the cabinet, and then again turns at right angles parallel to the first leg and eX- tends outthrough the Tall of the cabinet, an elongated opening 19vr being provided in the wall el? the cabinet for this purpose and to allow iior the vertical adjustment of the bracket. Y

'lhe extension of the bracket 17 outside of the cabinet divides to form a forked bracket 20, the arms of which are disposed in vertical alignment and serve as bearings lor a vertical screw 21, which is screw threaded for a l portion ot its length at, its upper end and for the rest of its length is smooth. `The arm 15 has a hub portion 22 which surrounds the smooth portion of the screw 21 s0 as to pivot freely thereon, resting upon a 'thrust collar Q3 on the screw 21. A hand wheel Q4 is provided with internal screw threads Vand engages over the upper end off the screw 21. it is evident that the weight olf-.the arm 15 and of the parts carried thereby is taken by the wheel 2-1 where it bears on top of the upper arm of the forked bearing 20, aA thrust bearing being interposed between the wheel` and arm. as shown. As the hand wheel 2li. is turned the screw 21 and the arm 15 are raised and lowered. On the outer end, oit the arm 15, is a support lf'or the ephthahnonieter 16. The arm 15 is curved upwardly from its hub so to bring the ophthaluionieter at substantially the proper height lfor the examination of the eyesfof the patient sit-'ting in the chair 2G. rlfhis height may, 0f course, be varied beth by the manipulation ot the hand wheel 141-, and of the hand wl'ieel 2&1.

Supported on the si andai-d ucar its upper end is a holhnv swinging arin il? lorsupporting auetluu' instrunieut, siuL-h as 'the ire-- tractor 28. This arm is shown as carried by a sleeve 29 which siurounds the standard and bears against a thrust collar 3.() on the standard. A knob 31 on the arm 2,? is on the end oi a taper screw 31n threaded into the arm 27 and operating a. push rod 3l" within the arm i2?, which rod bears against the standard 5 and locks the arm 27 a nst rotation when the taper screw is setup., as shown in Fig. 1a.

The reiractorl 28 is supported on the outer Idil . wheel to rotate therewith.

vtical position ofthe retractor'will not be 'has on ployed likerthatshown in the end of the arm 27 in such a manner as to be f adjustabiereiative to the arm in bothA a vertical and horizontal direction. The vertical adjustment effected through the mechanism illustrated in detail in Figure 2. y

Un the outer end of the arm 27 is a' T` casting 32, thevertical head ot' which is tubuf lar and serves as a bearing for the vertical screw 33 on the lower end of which is carried the holder tor the rciractor 28 and the horizontally adjusting mechanism. Surrounding the screw 33 within the casting 32 is a sleeve 34, which is splined to the screw 33 by a key 35. The sleeve 34 .is free to rotate within the casting 32 unless restrained by a clamp herein? after described, but it is held `against longitudinal movement in the casting by a set screw 363 the end oiwhich engages in a. circumferential groove nea-rthe upper end of the y sleeve. A hand lwheel 37 has an internally screw threaded hub which engages over the screw 33 innnediately below 'the sleeve 34. thev wheel being retained inV place by a two-part retaining` ring 3S which engages in a cir-cuni terential groove in the hub of the hand wheel just below the lower end ofthe casting 32, the retaining ring being secured, as by screws, to the lower tace ot' thecasting. A clamp `screw 39 passes through ears on the casting at its top end and screws into one ot them and serves when turned up to pinch the ears together and thus reduce the diameter of the upper end ot the casting' 32 which is slotted between the cars for a sutlicient distance to permit of thisV distortion` A handle 40 is provided to operate the screw. The downward rotation of the handle 40 turns rthe screw to constrict the top ot the casting' and cause it to grip the sleeve 34 and hold it, and hence the screw 38. against rotation. It is evident that as the hand wheel 37 is rotated the screwl 33 will beA raised or loweredprovided the sleeve 34 is. locked against rotation-by the clampscrcw 39. Vhen the sleeve 34 is released t'or'rotation` it is evident that the screw 3B may be freely turned upon its own axis, which movement will cause the sleeve 34. and the hand Hence. 'the verchangcd by the rotation of thescrew 33, and it is evident- 'that the screw 33 cannot be turned when the clamp handle 4() depressed.

The lower end o'l the screw 33- is fixed in a T-casting 41, and a horizontal rod 42, which i end anv attaclmient 43' 'for theretractor 2S. is horizontally7 adjusted in thef head oft the T-casting 41 by turning a handv wheel which adjustment is effected' through any suitable mechanism., such as by a pinion on the shaft ot' the hand wheel which engages in rack teeth on the rod 42, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2, or a construction tor this purpose may be emsaid patent. to Clement No. 1,494,666. A test chart fi "In Hans holder or support 46b of suitable construction is supported on the standard 5, rest-ing upon a thrustcollar 46 on the standard. The height of the test chart is such that its medial horizontal line is in the plane of the line of visionl of the refractor when the refractor is'adjusted to the proper height forthe average patient seated in the chair 26. vThe test chart is contained in acabinet which is so mounted as to be rotatable about the Standard 5,'whereby the face of the chart can be brought to the proper plane for the patient usingl the reitractor to see the reiiection of the chart in a mirror infront of the patient.

lIn using the instruments above described, the refra-ctionist seats his patientin the chair `26 and then turns the hand wheel `14 until the refractor and the ophthalmometer are `subl stantia'lly at the correct height for the con'k venientuse of the patient. If the retractor is t-he'instrument first used, the arm 27 is swung `around so as to bring 'the refractor betore the eyes ot the patient. If a further slight adjustment is needed either in a horizontal or vertical direction, such adjustment is effected either by turning the hand wheel 44 or the hand wheelv 37. as above described. After the vexamination with the refractor is completed,

the handle 40 is raised and the refractor is swung around on the axis of the screw 33 to a position at lright angles to that shown in Figure l, when the'arm 27 is swung back so as to move the refractor out of the way. Then the arm -isswungaround soas to brine.f the ophthalmometer 16 before the patient.. If its height is not exactly right, a furtherfslight adjustment can be effected by turning the hand wheel 24. The supportis so mounted upon the arm 15 that-it can' be rotated upon its vertical axis, thereby enabling they retract-ionist to bring the lens lsystem in line with either eye ot the patient.

` Current for illuminating the lamps in. the ophthalmometer 16 andthe test chart 46 is brought into the base cabinet 1 where a suitable current controller `is disposed 1 from whence it is led to the respective lamps. In. the construction'shown, the electrical attachment to an outside source of current, such as a lamp socketor a wall receptaclevmay Ybe made at either one oit two places. r4The stand# ard 5 is shown ashollow and a receptacle45 is provided in the top end of the standard.

which receptacle is connected to thecurrent Y wires 46a and 47a. 'In Figure 1 a cable 49 from Van* outside source ofv current is shown as llt) . respectively.

base of the in plugged into the receptacle 45. rlhis current controlling mechanism 1s more fully disclosed and is claimed in the above noted parent Pat ent, No. 1,625,075.

'lhe current controlling mechanism rei 'erred to also pe 1mits of the illumination ot small diagnostic instruments trom the regular city current which` is employed to illuminate the ophthalmometer and the test chart. This current controlling mechanism is entirely contained within the cabinet l and arranged to be conveniently operated from the exterior ot the cabinet. rl`his current controlling` mechanisni and its connections 'for the distribution ot the current therefrom Vto the several points of utilization will non' be somewhat. briefly described.

The current controlling',` devices are all contained upon the inner tace oit the panel 2, and the lon7 voltage attachments tor the small instruments are all supported upon the top angle extension l of the panel 2. The Wires L.t6 and 47 are connected to a fuse block 50 on the inner tace ot the panel 2, the other terminals of which block are connected to tivo conductors 51 and l 2 on a plate 56 secured to the in* ner :tace ott the panel 2. This plate 5? carries a manual switch 5l, shoivn as oit the push. button snap type, also a pilot l i ght and a receptacle 56. The switch 5.4i; is in the line ot the Wire 5l, and the pilot light 55 and the receptacle 56 are connected in parallel across the wires 5l and 52. rlhe Wires 5l and 52 are connected to tivo conductive strips 57 and 58, preferably of copper, through wires 59 and rllhe copper strips 57 and 58 are attached to the inner tace ot the panel 2. For illun'iinatinze,- the lamp of the test chart, Wires 6l and 62 are attached at their inner ends to the copper Irips 57 and 58vand are led into the hollen7 standard 5` through a hole provided tor that purpose, and are again brought out oit the standard through a hole just below the bottom the test chart, entering` the bottom ot the test chart, as shown in Figure i.. For illuminating the lamp in the ophthalmometer 16, wires 68 and 64- are also attached to the copper strips 57 and and are brought out through the bracket 17y and the base oit the toi-hed bearing 2O through holes provided for that purpose, to the inner tace ot the arm l5 against which they are cured and run al one' th e inner tace ot the arm and are led through the support .'25 into the ,rumena It is evident that the voltage of the lamps in the ophthalmometer and in the test chart, as well as that delivered to the receptacle 56 Will be the full voltage ot the supply circuit, This receptacle 56 merely provides tor the user a convenient attachment tor a lamp or for an instrument or any other translating; device requiring the lull circuit voltage. For the smaller instruments, such as ophthalinoscopes, retinoscopes and transilluminators,

the lamps of which take a relatively small voltage, means are provided tor the necessary reduction of the voltage and there are convenientsupports in the cabinets for such instruments. In this Way there is brought into' one unit all of the instruments needed tor eX- ination purposes and a current supply to each instrument ot the proper voltage. The low voltage electric circuits and the support-s for the small instruments will now be described.

Carried by the top panel 4t are tour jacks, three ot which, numbered may, for convenience, be reterred to as the three-volt jacks and the fourth one, numbered 66, may be re- `erred to as the six-volt jack. JAgainst the .tace of the panel 2 behind these tour iacks runs a conductor strip 67 and on the ront tace ot the three jacks 65 is secured another conductor strip 68 shorter than the strip 67 so as to extend only across the three jacks 65. On the front tace oft the jack 66 is also secured a short conductor strip 69. The copper strip 58 is connected to the conductor 67 through the wire 7 O andthe strip 57 is connected to the conductor 68 through the Wire 71, rheostat 72 and resistance 7 8. rlhe handle 74 ltor the rheostat 72 is on the external tace or the panel 2. lt is evident that the circuit is completed When the tivo conductors 67 and 68 are connected and this connection is controlled by the presence ot an instrument in the respective jacks. By the adjustment of the rheostat 72 the voltage in this circuit may be regulated and is indicated by a volt meter 75 which is connected across the conductors 67 and 68.

The short conductor strip 69 lon the trent tace ot the six-volt jack 66 is connected to the strip 57 through wire 76 and resistance 77, which resistance is supported on the panel 2. The circuit 'for this jack 66 is also completed when there is a connection between the con ductors 69 and 67, which connect-ion is controlled by the presence ot an instrument in the acl; 66, as is the corresponding connection tor the aclrs ,65, In parallel with the iach 66 is a six-volt receptacle 78 in the top panel 4i. The receptacle 78 provides a con-' venient source ot electric current at six volts tor Vany purpose; and there is also provided an extra attachment tor an instrument or anyV other translatin o' d evice requiring` three volts, the latter connection consisting ot the hinding` posts 79 and 86 outhe top panel el. These binding posts are connected to the strips 57 and 58, in parallel with theconductors 67 and 68, this parallel connection for the binding posts being` controlled by a manual switch 81 on the tace ot the panel 2.

To connect the conductors 67 and 68, the cables tor the instruments for the s several jacks are connected to binding posts 82 and 83 on the jacks, one series ot binding` posts being` on the conductor 68 and the other series et binding posts beingl on the same tace ot the jacks but having their connection to the conductor 67 automatically controlled as the instruments are inserted in and withdrawn from the respective jacks. This feature ofv construction is common to all of vthe jacks', including the jack 66 and the connection of its conductor 69 with the conductor 67. jack provides a vertical socket for thereception ct the lower end of an instrument 84. As shown in liigures 3 and 6, the cable or cord 85 :tortlie instrument 84 is suthciently long to ailow the instrument to be taken over to the examining position before a patient s ated in the chair 26. One wire of this cable connected to the binding post 82 and the other wire is connected to the binding post 83.

It will be observed that this apparatus brings into one convenient assembly all of the instruments to be used for making optical examinations, that all' of the instruments or other devices requiring current are supplied from one source and that all of the wiring and electrical parts are concealed within the A thereto, manually operable positively acting screw means for effecting such adjustment,

EachA an arm above the base mounted to Swing on a vertical axis on the standard for vertical adjustment therewith, a head carried by the outer end of the arm, a supportingmember depending from the head and' guided lthereby for vertical adjustment with respect thereto, manuallyoperable positiv-ely kactingscrevvv means for el'ccting such adjustment of said member relatively to the head, and a support for a diagnostic instrument carried by the lower end of said member for vertical. adjustment therewith, whereby initial vertical adjustment ont' the instrument may be obtained by adjusting the standard and final vertical adjustment thereof may be obtained by adj nsting said member.

An optical testing device comprising a base a horizontallvv oro ectinbracket arm mounted on 'the base for vertical adjustment with respect thereto, manually operable positively acting screw means for effecting such adjustment, an arm mounted to swing on a vertical airis on the` outer end of the bracket arm and tor vertical adjustment with respect thereto, manually operable positively acting vscrew means for eifecting such adjustment oit-the swinging arm relatively to the bracket arm, andan instrument support mounted upon the outer end of the swinging arm,

Vifi-'hereby two interdependent vertical adjustments are provided for the instrument, of which one may bean initial adjustment and the other may be a final adjustment.

In witness whereof, We hereunto subscribe our Signatures.

- HANS CLEMENT.

GILBERT S. DEY. 

